NYC's 250,000 Street Lights To Be Replaced With LEDs By 2017 372
An anonymous reader writes "New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced that the city's 250,000 street light fixtures, which currently use incandescent bulbs, will be replaced with LEDs by 2017. It's part of a plan to reduce the city government's emissions by 30%. The LEDs have a lifespan of 20 years, more than three times that of the current incandescent bulbs, and Bloomberg says it will save $6 million in energy and $8 million in maintenance every year. It will be the largest LED retrofit in the country. 'The first of three phases to replace the standard "cobra-head" high-pressure sodium street lights, which will upgrade 80,000 at a time across the five boroughs, is expected to be completed in December 2015 with the final phase expected to be completed by 2017. Following the replacement of roadway lighting, decorative fixtures in the city's business and commercial districts will be addressed.'"
Re:I wish they'd do it here. (Score:5, Funny)
Yes, we've had LED traffic signals here for years, and I've only seen them obstructed by snow once. You need a wet, sticky snow and a swift drop in temperature for it to happen. IINM they put remote-controlled heaters in the newer ones.
And it seldom snows upwards. I don't think I've ever seen it snow upwards.
Re:High-pressure sodium isn't "incandescent" (Score:5, Funny)
Why would I trust anything Canadians say? Underneath those obsequious manners and maple syrup, they're planning to invade America. Never let it be said the British Empire gives up easily.
Re:20 year lifespan (Score:4, Funny)
Nobody said they worked underwater.
Re:incandescent != sodium (Score:5, Funny)
It's a disaster for amateur astronomy,
You mean the one star that I can sort-of see in NYC will disappear? :)
I think that damage is already done. My daughter didn't really know what a star was until we brought her to the beach. After that, I felt pretty sorry that I had been singing "Twinkle Twinkle" all this time without actually telling her what the heck a star was...